Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



?. f J. F. ocNNo FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANSP@ Original Filed Feb.2. 1925 2 sheiswsheet l Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,318

J. F. ocoNNQR FRICIION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 2,1925 2 Sheets-Shale?. 2

Patented Nov. a, 1927.

. 1,648,3184 UNITED STATES PATENT orsi-cs.;

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T W. H. MINER, INC., 0F

' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FBICTION SHOCK-ABSORBIN G lYIECHANISliI.

This invention relates to friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a, high capacit friction shockabsorbing mechanism, inc uding a plurality of relatively movablefriction elements having cooperatingfriction surfaces adapted todevel'op a certain amount of preliminary frictional resistance followedby an increased,

relatively high frictional resistance during the remainder of thecompression stroke.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Avide a mechanism of thecharacter indicated,

especially adapted for railway draft riggings,- including a plurality ofrelatively movable friction elements each having a plurality of frictionsurfaces, the corresponding surfaces of said elements being adapted tocooperate and said surfaces being operative in sequence to successivelyprovide a certain amount of initial frictional resistance followed by arelatively heavier frictional resistance during the remainder of thecompression stroke. n

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a friction shockabsorbing mechanism, including a friction post and cooperating frictionshoes, the post and shoes having a plurality of longitudinally disposedcooperating friction. surfaces, certain of which are disposed parallelto the longitudinal axis of the mechanism and others of whichdivergelongitudinally of the mechanism, together with means for pressingsaid shoes against the post and forcing the same longitudinally thereof.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is alongitudinal, horizontal, sectional view of a portion of a railway draftrigging showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is avertical, longitudinal, sectional view corresponding substantially tothe line 2-2 of Figure 1. `Figure 3 is a vertical, transverse, sectionalview corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. And Figure4 is a detailed, perspective lYiew of a friction wedge shoe used inconnection with my improved shock absorbing mechanism.

In the drawings, 10-10 indicate channelshaped center or draft sills of arailway car atively connected a hooded yoke'lfl of usual construction.The shock absorbin mechanism, as well as a front main fol oWer 15, 1soperatively disposed within the Iyoke. The yoke and the parts containedtherein are operatively supported by a detachable saddle plate 16. l

The lmproved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprisesbroadly, a front follower casing A; a combined rear follower and springcage B having a friction post C formed integral therewith; a pair ofwedge shoes D D; twin arranged main spring resistance elements E-E;spring followers F-F; and a pair of retainer bolts G-(nr.

The front follower casing A is of hollow construction, and comprises atop wall 17, a bottom wall 18, a transverse front end Wall 19, .andrearwardly diverging Side walls 20-20. The front wall 19 lbears directlyon the inner surface of the main follower 15.` The rearwardly divergingside walls are? preferably reinforced by Vhorizontally disposed webs.The inner surfaces of the side walls 20 present rearwardly divergingvopposed wedge faces 21-21adapted to cooperate with wedge shoes D. l

The rear vfollower B is in the form of agenerally rectangular casinghaving a transverse, vertically disposed end wall 22 adapted tocooperate with the rear stop lugs 12in the manner of the` usual rearfollower. The friction post C extends forwardly from the rear wall 22and is formedintegrally with the topI and bottom walls of the casing,the side walls of the casing being recessed as indicated at 23 toaccommodate the corresponding sides of the main spring resistanceelements.

As clearly. shown in Figures'l and 2, the

forward end of the friction post Cvprojects of the post divergerearwardly of the' mechanism and the surfaces 25 are disposed inparallel relation, the post being centrally cut away at opposite sidesthereof to provide the parallel faces 25. I f

As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, in the normal full release positionof the parts, the front end of the post is spaced a predetermineddistance from the inner'surface of the end wall 19 of the frontfollower, the distance'beingequal to the normal comression ystroke ofthe mechanism. The ront end of the casing B is also spaced a similardistance. from the inner end of the casing A.

The friction `[wedge shoes` D, which are referably .in4 thev form ofcastings, are of ike construction, each having an outer wedge 4faee121anda flat inner end face.26 adapted to cooperate respectively with thecorrespondin `wedge facef21 of the follower casingflA lan the fiat frontsurface of the corlSPonding spring follower F. On the inner side eachshoe is provided with a set of vfriction surfaces adapted to cooperatewith one of the sets of friction surfaces vof the post. The set offriction surfaces of each shoe comprises a centrally dis osed surface125, adapted to cooperate wit the corresponding. surface 25 of the ostand a,

i r .pair of surfaces 124 on opposite sides of the surfaces 125 adaptedto cooperate with the correspondin inclined friction surfaces 24 of thepost. s clearly shown in Figure 4, the inner, face ofthe shoe is cutaway at opposite slides of the central friction sur- .faces 125 toprovide the inclined friction surfaces 124.

v. The twin arranged spring resistance elements E are disposed onopposite sides of the friction post, each element having its front andrear ends bearing respectively onl the corresponding spring follower Fand the inner surface of the transverse end wall 22 of the follower B.Each member of the twin arranged spring resistance E comprises an inner,relativel light, and an outer, relatively heavier coi the front end ofthe inner coil being held in central position with reference to thecorresponding spring follower by a rearwardly'projecting lug .27thereon.

The retainer bolts G are two in number, and are arranged at the to andbottom of the mechanism, each bolt aving the rear end thereof anchoredto the followerB and the front end anchored to the casing A, the head ofeach bolt working in an elongated opening formed in the rear follower.

The normal position of the parts is that shown in Figure 1, with thefriction surfaces` 25 and 125 of the post and shoes in Contact and thesurfaces 24 and 124 in slightly spaced relation.

The operation of the device is as follows, assuming a builing stroke ofthe mechanism.

As the front follower l5 is forced inwardly,

the casing A will be carried therewith, Wedging the friction shoes Dagainst the surfaces 25 of the post and vcarrying the shoes rearwardlyon the latter. The described action will continue until the frictionsurfaces 24 and 124 of the post and ment of the friction shoes due tothe ta er. of the surfaces 24, causing the shoes to s 'p' on the wedgefaces of the casing A and also effecting a more rapid movementr of thespring followers F inwardly of the mechanism than the casing A. Anaugmented resistance will thus be offered, and the springs will becompressed to a greater extent. This action will continue until eitherthe actuating force is reduced or inwardmovement of the front followercasing A is limited b engagement of the inner end thereof wit the frontend offthe follower casing B and engagement of the wall 19 of the casingA -with the front end of the post C, whereupon the pressure will betransmitted directly through the follower casing B and the post to therear stop lugs, the parts acting as a solid column and preventing themain springs from being driven solid. lUpon reduction of the actuatingforce, the main springs E will effect restoration of all of the parts tonormal position, outward movement of the casing A being limited by theretainer bolts G. i

From the preceding description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be evident that I have provided an exceedingly rictionresistancey will be compression of tie mechanism, followed by a highfrictional resistance during the remainder of the compression stroke.

It is pointed out that this result maybe accomplished in various wa vs,and that my invention is not limited to isposing the set of frictionsurfaces, which first becomes operative, in parallel relation to theaxis of the mechanism, it beine within theinvention to dispose all oftthe friction surfaces at au inclination to the longitudinal axis of themechanism, the surfaces which first become operative being inclined tolesser degrec than the remaining surfaces.

While l have herein shown and described what I now consider thepreferred manner ot carrying out my invention, the samelis merelyillustrative, and l contemplate all changes and modiiications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Iclaim:

l'. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction element having a plurality of sets of longitudinally arrangedfriction surfaces, the surfacesvof each set being angularly disposedwith reference to each other; a plurality of friction shoes, each shoehaving a plurality of friction surfaces cooperating withone of said setsof first named surfaces; pressure transmitting spreading means directlyreceiving the actuating force and engaging said shoes for forcing thesame against said. friction element and longitudinally thereof.;

and means yieldingly resisting movement of said shoes.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination withafriction element having two sets of opposed, longitudinallyarrangedfriction surfaces, the surfaces of each set being angularlydisposed with reference to eachv other; a pair of friction wedge shoes,each shoe having a plurality of friction surfaces cooperating with oneof said sets of first named surfaces and similarly disposed thereto;wedge .pressure transmitting means directly receiving the actuatin orceengaging the shoes; and means yiel ingly opposmg movement of said shoes.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction element having two sets of surfaces, each set being composed ofsurfaces disposed respectively parallel and at an inclination to thelongitudinal axis of the mechanism; of a plurality of wedge frictionshoes cooperatingy with the friction surfaces of said element, each shoehaving a set of surfaces disposed respectively at an inclination andparallel to the axis of the mechanism and adapted to cooperate with oneof the sets of friction surfaces of the friction element; Wedge pressuretransmitting means directly receiving the actuating force andcooperating with the shoes, said means having wedge faces relativelyfixed with respect to each other; and means yieldingly resistingmovement of said shoes.

4. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction element having two sets of friction surfaces, said sets beingdisposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the mechanism,each set comprising a central friction surface disposed parallel to theaxis of the mechanism, and a pair of friction surfaces inclined withreference to the axis of the mechanism, said last named surfaces beingon opposite sides of the central surfaces; of a pair of friction Wedgeshoes disposed on opposite sides of the mechanism, each shoe having aset of friction surfaces adapted to cooperate with one of said sets offriction surfaces of said element` the friction surfaces of each shoebeing disposed parallel to the corresponding surfaces of the frictionelement; Wedge .pres-4 sure transmitting means cooperating'- with saidshoes; and a. main spring resistance.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acentral friction element having a plurality of sets of friction surfacesthereon; of a plurality of friction shoes movable relatively thereto,each l shoe `having a set of friction surfacesfcooperating `with one ofthe sets of friction surfaces of the central element, certain of saidcooperating surfaces of said last named sets being disposed parallel tothe axis of the mechanism and the remaining cooperating surfaces thereofbeing inclined to said axis; wedge pressure transmitting meanscooperating with said shoes; and a main spring resistance.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with afriction post, said post havin parallel friction surfaces on theopposite si es thereof, Isaid post also having friction surfaces on theopposite sides thereof diverging longitudinally ofl the relativelymovable to said post, said shoes having' friction surfacessuccessivelycooperatingv with the' firstand second 'named posty friction surfaces;wedge pressure transmitting means cooperating with said shoes; and meansyieldingly opposing movement of the shoes.

8. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism,l the combination with. frontand rear follower acting members, one of said memf bers having afriction post extending therefrom and the other member having interiorWedge faces; of friction shoes cooperating with said post, each shoehaving a wedge face cooperating with one of said follower faces, saidpost and each shoe havin vengaging friction surfaces inclined wit irespect to the axis of the mechanism, and said post and each shoe havingadditional cooperating friction surfaces angularl disposed Withreference to said incline friction surfaces; and means yieldinglyresisting movement ofthe shoes. J 'y 9. In a friction shock absorbing.mechanism, the combination with a follower-acting member and meansassociated therewith provided with a plurality of Vrelatively longiosedat different distances from the center ine of the mechanism; of aplurality of devices movable longitudinally with respect to said meansand friction surfaces, said de- 5 vices being provided with frictionsurfaces disposed also at different distances from the center line ofthe mechanism, certain of said surfaces co-acting durin the initialportion of a compression stro e and, thereafter, l0 others of saidsurfaces during the final portion of a compression stroke; a springresistance; and' wedge-pressure transmitting means directly actuated bsaid follower member and co-o rable wit said devices to effect thelongitu inal movement thereof and l5 maintain the frictional surfacesthereof in contact with the frictional surfaces of said means. v

In witness that I claim the fore oing I have hereuntovsubscribed my namet is 31st l0 day of January, 1925.

JOHN F. OCONNOR.

